Spud-grip for dredgers, &amp;c.



PATENTED 11111.11, 1905.I

n No. 786,968..

' UNITED STATES rammed April 1 1, 1905.

PATENT OFFICEo SPUD-GRIP FOR DREDGERS, dto..-

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N o. 786,968, dated April 11, 1905.

Application filed December 6, 1904. Serial No. 235,688.

To LH whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. HOLLEN- BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riovista, in the county of Solano and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spud-Grips for Dredgers or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved grip for the spuds of dredges, pile-drivers, and the ike.

` It is common to employ on dredges and elsewhere for the purpose of raising and lowering the spuds or timbers by which the vessel is anchored a form of grip which, consists of a rectangular closed yoke or band adapted loosely to embrace a spudand having an eye or other means on one side for the attachment of a cable or block and tackle. While this grip has the merit of simplicity, it is obj ectionable-in that it does not always hold the spud securely, and by reason of its more or less sharp or narrow edges jamming into opposite sides ofthe spud rapidly wears away the latter and sometimes even breaks the spud in two.

The object of my invention is to provide a durable, powerful, practical grip, which will invariably take a firm hold on the spud and will not slip, which will not cut or destroy the spud, and which shall be simple and can be quickly applied.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

' having reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the application of the preferred form of my device. Fig. 2 is a section on line x of Fig. 1. y Fig. 3 shows a modification of the invention. line y y of Fig. 3.

My grip comprises, essentially, an open toggle-frame or double toggle connected at the ends and joints adapted'to be slipped over the end of a spud or timber and having suitable bearing parts disposed between the spud and the opposite sides of the toggle, Where the pressure comes on the spud.

As shown in Fig. 1, A and B represent two Fig. 4 is a section onl yokes hinged together at one side by the bolt 2 to form a toggle and corresponding in shape and size to the spud or timber, as 3, with which the grip is assumed to be used in conjunction. A bearing-plate 4 of a width approximately equal to that of the spud is hinged, as at 5, to the front of the lower yoke and is of sufficient length to extend up inside of yoke A and in front of a roller 6, carried by said yoke, and to lie between this roller and the spud when the grip is slipped over the spud. When the grip is engaged with a spud, one member has a limited pivotal movement relative to the other. As they open out they grip the spud and as they close together they release it. The forward end of the member A is provided with suitable means, as the eye 7, for the attachment of a block and tackle or aline, so that when the memberA is lifted and the front of member B dropped the roller 6 will bind on the bearing-plate 4 adjacent to the top of the latter. The hinge-bolt 2 preferably carries a shoe 8, which may be of any suitable 'size' and area to engage the back of the spud and relieve the latter of the immediate and otherwise destructive pressure of bolt 2. Where shoe 8 is pivoted to the bolt, as here shown, the movement of the shoe about the bolt may be limited by suitable means, as the pin 9, so that the proper bearing-surface of the shoe will always be presented without difficulty to the spud. The two yokes operate as a toggle-grip to engage the opposite sides of a spud or other object to be gripped, and the inward pressure exerted by the toggleis distributed over a comparatively large area by reason of the interposed `parts 4 and 8. The yokes maybe of any suitable size or construction, optional with the manufacturer. In the present instance each yoke is shown as made up of separate pieces bolted together and suitably spaced to form rigid, strong, and durable and at the same time very simple structures. The part 4 may be made of boiler-plate, to which are riveted the straps or bands, having their lower ends bent around the front of the yoke B to form the hinges 5. The lower yoke B has the elongated' slots 10, through which the bolt 2 passes, to allow for the suitable IOO enlargement of the space within the yokes, to let the grip be easily slipped over the spud, and to permit the latter when released by the grip to readily pass through the latter without any hindrance. By this construction of grip a sure and powerful hold may be taken on a spud, and the compressive strain on the spud exerted by the grip will be distributed over a considerable area, so that no damage will be done the spud. The grip can be moved to any point on the spud and will always take hold with equal readiness .and security. The instant the grip contacts with suitable stops, as 11, disposed in its path and tension on the upper yoke is released, the grip immediately opens to free the spud and allow the latter to drop. The upper and lower edges of the plate 4 and shoe 8 are curved outward or flaring, so as not to dent, catch on, or splinter the spud.

In Fig. 8 is shown a slightly-modified form of my device, in which the shoe 8 is elongated and is constructed similar to the bearing-plate 4 of Fig. l, but with the upper ends of the parts 8 and 4 connected by links 12, extending on opposite sides of the spud. The operation of the grip is essentially the same as in the lirst instance.

It islpossible that various modifications in my invention may be made without departing from the principle thereof, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction as herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention,what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A toggle-grip for spuds and the like, one of the members of said toggle having means opposite its jointed end for the atjtachment of a cable or other means of suport. p 2. A toggle-grip comprising two hinged yokes.

3. A toggleegrip comprising two yokes hinged together at one side and adapted to be freely slidable on a spud or the like.

4. A grip comprising two substantially rectangular frames hinged together at one side and having a limited pivotal movement relative to each other. when slipped over a spud.

5. A grip comprising two yokes hinged together at one side, bearing-plates carried by the yokes and interposable between the same and the article to be gripped.

6. A grip comprising two yoke members pivotally connected at one side, a bearingplate carried by one member and extending upward within the other member, said menibers having a limited movement relative to each other when embracing the object to be gripped.

7. A grip comprising two yoke members pivotally connected at one side, a bearingplate connected to one of the members op posite to the pivoted side, said bearing-plate extending upward within the other member but disconnected therewith, and a part carried by said other member and adapted to engage said bearing-plate when the members are operatively engaged with the object to be gripped.

8. A grip comprising a toggle having two yoke members hinged together at one side, one of said members having a limited reciprocating movement independent of the other and bearing parts carried by the members and inte'rposable between the latter and the object to be gripped.

9. A gripping device comprising two hinged yokes provided with bearing-plates interposable between the yokes and the part to be gripped, and means carried by one of said yokes for the attachment of a block and tackle or other suspensory means.

10. A grip comprising two hinged yokes, a shoe carried by the hinge, a bearingplate opposed to said shoe and supported by one of the members and interposable within the other member when the two are engaged with an obj ect to be gripped.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of' two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. HOLLENBECK. 

